PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet driver
John Force seeking 10th victory at Topeka
Photo credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 16) – Sixteen-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion John Force heads into Sunday’s Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka seeking another victory at the track and a boost in the points standings. Continue reading PEAK Coolant and Motor Oil Chevrolet driver John Force seeking 10th victory at Topeka
Kasey Kahne Racing – Results Recap
Consistency is key
The World of Outlaws Series had four scheduled stops, starting at Missouri State Fair Speedway and ending with the addition of the rescheduled race at Tri-State Speedway. Daryn Pittman and the Great Clips/Sage Fruit/ASE team started off this stint strong with two second-place finishes, and ended the stint with four top tens.
Sweet and the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet/Sage Fruit/ASE team stayed consistent over these five races, earning five top-ten finishes.
This upcoming week we are getting excited to be at the Gettysburg Clash, the Spring Classic, the Morgan Cup, the Empire State Challenge and the Jersey Outlaw Classic as we make our way through Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey before returning back to North Carolina.
The Outlaws will return to Charlotte for the The Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Friday May 26th.
Second Double Header Event in Two Weeks adds Eight New Qualifying Teams For Dual National Championship!
Joliet, IL – The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge for the second weekend in a row held two qualifying events over the weekend. Both events were held in new locations and states. Out west in Kaysville, Utah at the Davis Applied Technology College, seven Utah teams competed in their very first Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge!
image003.pngOf those, 1 new team qualified for the Dual National Championship while another will be invited as a wild card team. Team Hedman Hedders, (Hunter High School from West Valley City, UT) qualified with the time of 32:59. Just 1 second under the limit. Team Aeroquip, (Box Elder High School from Brigham City, UT) came in second with a time of 33:52. They will be invited to the Dual National Championship as a “Wild Card” team. Continue reading Second Double Header Event in Two Weeks adds Eight New Qualifying Teams For Dual National Championship!
CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
101ST RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DAY 2 PRACTICE RECAP
MAY 16, 2017
Will Power posted a lap of 224.656 mph/40.0613 seconds in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet to top the speed chart on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on the second day of practice for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.
Power, winner from the pole May 13 of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, led seven Chevrolet drivers in the top 10 and nine of the top 12. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Indy 500 Practice Day 2
Hunter-Reay Paces Honda Effort as Indianapolis 500 Practice Continues
• Ryan Hunter-Reay runs fourth overall on warm, windy day of practice
• Fernando Alonso completes field-high 117 laps
• Second of five practice days prior to Indianapolis 500 qualifying
SPEEDWAY, Ind., (May 16, 2017) – Practice continued Tuesday under warm and gusty conditions at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as Honda drivers and teams focused on preparations for the May 28 Indianapolis 500.
Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay led the way for Honda in Tuesday’s six-hour practice session, posting the fourth-fastest speed in an incident-free day. Teammate Takuma Sato ended the day sixth, with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Mikhail Aleshin taking the checkers seventh on the speed chart.
Two-time Formula One World Champion and McLaren Honda driver Fernando Alonso recorded the most laps of the 33 driver/car combinations in this year’s field, running 177 laps, just over half a race distance, today. Meanwhile, Dale Coyne Racing’s Ed Jones was fastest of the four rookies, ending the day 15th overall at 222.251 mph.
Practice activities continue through Friday, with qualifying action to set the field of 33 on the historic 2.5-mile oval scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Ed Jones (#19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) led the rookie field Tuesday in practice: “The day started off quite difficult. There were a few changes to the car that we had to make to adjust to certain things. It took a bit longer than we expected, but once we got up to speed we did a lot of traffic running. I learned a massive amount today and felt really comfortable towards the end when we were able to start passing a few cars. I think the first two days have been solid, as well as they could have gone, and I’m happy with the progress were making.”
Red Horse Racing: Notes & Quotes
Event: North Carolina Education Lottery 200
Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date: May 19, 2017
Red Horse Racing: Notes & Quotes
Event: North Carolina Education Lottery 200
Venue: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date: May 19, 2017
Red Horse Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway… In 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Red Horse Racing has recorded three top-five and nine top-10 finishes. In 2016, Red Horse Racing picked up two top-ten finishes with Matt Tifft and Timothy Peters. Continue reading Red Horse Racing–Charlotte Advance
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
MONSTER ENERGY ALL-STAR RACE
CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
MAY 20, 2017
BOWTIE BULLETS
CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE:
Chevrolet leads all other manufacturers with 17 victories in the annual prestigious non-points All-Star race.
CHEVY HISTORY MINUTE:
Did you know Darrell Waltrip driving a Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Hendrick Motorsports won the inaugural All-Star race May 25, 1985. Chevrolet has gone on to win All-Star events with multiple brands include the Chevy Lumina, Monte Carlo SS, Impala and most recently the Chevy SS. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–All-Star Race Advance
Auto Club Chevrolet driver Robert Hight heads
back to where it started: Heartland Park
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 16) – This weekend, Robert Hight returns to where it all started: Heartland Park Topeka.
Hight’s first race with John Force Racing as a crew member was here in 1995, and he earned his Funny Car license at the track in 2004.
Now, he comes back with a vengeance for the NHRA Menards Heartland Nationals, trying to put the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS in Heartland Park’s winner’s circle. Continue reading Auto Club Chevrolet driver Robert Hight heads back to where it started: Heartland Park
Monster Energy driver Brittany Force confident
she can break out of slump in Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 16) – All professional athletes go through slumps like Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster driver Brittany Force is facing.
The key to getting out of a slump is to keep working – and that’s just what Force and her team have done. The Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals this weekend at Heartland Park Topeka could be the breakthrough Force needs.
“I’m feeling good,” Force said after a successful test last week. “I’m positive that we have this bug out of our car. We’ve been struggling, and after Atlanta, my crew chiefs sat me down and said, ‘We figured out what the problem is. Now, it’s correcting it and getting better from here.’ Continue reading Monster Energy driver Brittany Force confident she can break out of slump in Topeka
Fueled by positive memories of Heartland Park,
Advance Auto’s Courtney Force ready to win again
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 16) – The memories of Heartland Park Topeka come flooding back like a tidal wave for Advance Auto Parts Funny Car driver Courtney Force.
Force qualified No. 1 at Heartland Park – site of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals this weekend – in 2014, sharing the honor with sister Brittany Force, who earned the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel.
But Courtney Force didn’t stop there. She beat Dale Creasy Jr., Jeff Arend, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Cruz Pedregon to win the race and score the 100th victory by a female driver in NHRA. Continue reading Fueled by positive memories of Heartland Park, Advance Auto’s Courtney Force ready to win again
Allen Johnson Knows Importance of Performance at Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (May 16, 2017) – If there was one word to describe Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing driver Allen Johnson’s season, it’d be progress. He is hoping to take that progress and ink his first victory of the season at this weekend’s 29th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
“It’s getting to the part of the season where it’s very important to do well,” Johnson said. “We’ve made a few more gains this past week on the dyno so we’re hoping our performance may be just a little better than it was in Atlanta. It’d be nice to get lane choice for first round and start winning some rounds.” Continue reading Allen Johnson Knows Importance of Performance at Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals
Team JEGS Prerace Notes:
Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals
Team JEGS Prerace Notes
Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties
Heartland Park Topeka
Topeka, Kan.
(May 19-21, 2017)
The JEGS Mail Order team will be well represented during this weekend’s Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. Six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. will lead the effort behind the wheel of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Pro Stock Camaro. Troy Coughlin Jr. will be behind the wheel of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster fielded by Kalitta Motorsports. Troy Coughlin Sr. will also be in action in the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series with his JEGS.com Corvette.
Jeg Jr. will continue his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock title (and seventh overall) at this weekend’s event. Jeg Jr. will be driving a Rick Jones Race Cars-built Chevy Camaro as a member of the Elite Motorsports team. Continue reading Team JEGS Prerace Notes: Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals
Team JEGS / Prerace Notes: NHRA Division 3
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Cavalcade of Stars
Team JEGS / Prerace Notes
NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser
Norwalk, Ohio. (May 19-21, 2017)
Mike Coughlin will be racing his JEGS.com dragster at this weekend’s Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser in Norwalk, Ohio. The event is the second of seven races in the 2017 North Central Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
Mike will be racing the same Top Dragster he drove to a win at the season-opening Circle K Winternationals in Pomona. In that event, Mike ran as quick as 6.05 seconds and defeated Andy Spiegel in the final round. Continue reading Team JEGS / Prerace Notes: NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Cavalcade of Stars
Jeg Coughlin Jr. coming to life as NHRA tour
heads to middle stretch of regular season
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 16) — Six-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. knows his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro has been running well all year. He also knows it’s been getting even better over the last few national events, which has him thrilled to be heading to Heartland Park Topeka for this weekend’s 29th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
“We’re really excited about the first seven races and are very much looking forward to this middle stretch of the 18-race regular season to climb further up the rankings,” Coughlin said. “The entire Elite Motorsports race team has picked up a bunch of momentum the last few races with our team logging a runner-up finish in Houston, a couple of No. 1 qualifying efforts in Houston and Charlotte, and my teammate Erica Enders getting to the finals last race in Atlanta.
“The points are adding up and we all know these middle races count just as much as the ones nearer the end of the regular season when everyone is jockeying for playoff spots. It’s important to maintain our focus and continue working hard.”
Coughlin, a five-time Pro Stock world champion who also won the 1992 Super Gas title, is right in the thick of a very crowded Mello Yello Pro Stock point standings. He currently ranks fifth, one point behind fourth-place Tanner Gray, one round behind third-place Jason Line, and just 91 points off Greg Anderson’s class lead.
Topeka should be a great place for Coughlin to make an upward move as he’s claimed three national event victories at Heartland Park, two in Pro Stock in 2000 and 2013 and once in Super Stock in 1994.
“Topeka’s a track that is usually very good,” Coughlin said. “Having had success in both the pro and sportsman ranks there in the past certainly gives me a dose of confidence.
“Looking at the forecast we may need to prepare for lots of weather changes, which can be a real test for the crew chiefs, but our gang of Mark Ingersoll, Rick Jones and Brian Self work really well together, as witnessed by the success we’ve been enjoying.”
When not racing himself, Coughlin will be supporting his brother Troy, who races in Pro Mod, and his nephew Troy Jr., who competes in Top Fuel.
Prior to the race, Coughlin will be taking in the NCAA regional golf tournament at Stanford University in the San Francisco area, where his son Jeg III is competing along with his teammates from The Ohio State University.
“We’re always pulling for Troy Jr. every weekend and it’s been fun to have him out on the pro tour full time,” Coughlin said. “Pro Mod added Topeka to its schedule this year so we’ll have brother Troy along with us this time, which will be fun.
“I’m super proud of my son and his teammates. This is the best the OSU team has done in a while so to reach regionals and have a chance to advance to the finals is very exciting for all of them. I’ll be there this week to show my support and then I’ll hustle over to Topeka for the races. It’s time for an Elite win.”
Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Friday, and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., Saturday, with eliminations starting at 12 p.m., Sunday. Television coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins at 10 p.m., Friday, followed by a live qualifying show at 2 p.m., Saturday. Elimination action also will be shown live starting at 1 p.m., Sunday. (All times are local and subject to change).
Atlanta runner-up Erica Enders looking
to go ‘One Step Beyond’ in Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 15) — Fresh off a season-best runner-up finish at the last NHRA tour stop in Atlanta, two-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders is looking to go “One Step Beyond” at this weekend’s 29th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland
Park Topeka.
“We are going to do our best to carry the momentum we picked up in Atlanta and take it to Topeka,” Enders said. “We had a great day there in our Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. All we need to do is get one step beyond that in Topeka and we’ll be back in the winner’s circle. We’d love for that to happen at Heartland Park.” Continue reading Atlanta runner-up Erica Enders looking to go ‘One Step Beyond’ in Topeka
21 Team Reflects on 21 Years, All-Star Race
May 16, 2017
Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team head into the Monster Energy All-Star weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway needing a stage win in the preliminary Monster Energy Open to earn a berth in the main event.
But as Michael Waltrip’s victory in the 1996 All-Star race proves, it is possible for an Open driver, one who hasn’t won a points-paying Cup race in the past two seasons, to win the main event.
Waltrip, driving the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Ford, finished fifth in the Winston Open back in ’96, but went on to win the main event, then known as the Winston, becoming the first Open driver to win it all. Continue reading 21 Team Reflects on 21 Years, All-Star Race
Honda, Red Bull GRC Prepare For Louisville Debut
• Olsbergs MSE Looks to Capture Honda’s First Red Bull GRC Victory
• Rookies O. Eriksson and deJong Seek Improvement on First-Round Finishes
• Shorter Circuit Suited to Tough and Technical Approach for Honda Civic Coupes
LOUISVILLE, KY (May 16, 2017) – Olsbergs MSE (OMSE), with drivers Mitchell deJong, Oliver Eriksson and Sebastian Eriksson (no relation) looks to improve the team’s top-five performance in last month’s Memphis season opener as the Honda Racing trio heads to Louisville, KY for Sunday’s second round of the 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross season. Continue reading Honda, Red Bull GRC Prepare For Louisville Debut
Four All-Star Wins for RCR … Richard Childress Racing has won four Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race events, most recently in 2007 with Kevin Harvick. Dale Earnhardt won the event in 1987, which included the legendary “Pass in the Grass.” Earnhardt also went on to claim the checkered flag in 1990 and 1993.
RCR in the MENCS … In 2,769 Sprint Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 48 pole awards,106 wins, 477 top-five finishes and 1,036 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.7 and an average finishing position of 16.1. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR XFINITY Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.
Catch the Action … Dillon and Menard are scheduled to compete in the Monster Energy Open on Saturday, May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is scheduled to be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90. Newman is scheduled to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, on Saturday, May 20 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is scheduled to be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.
CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
101ST RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DAY 1 PRACTICE RECAP
MAY 15, 2017
Chevrolet drivers in the Verizon IndyCar Series shifted from turning laps on the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course to the famous 2.5-mile oval to commence practice for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.
Thirty-two competitors logged 1,306 total laps to begin preparations for qualifications this weekend and the May 28 race. Team owner/driver Ed Carpenter, a two-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner, led the way for Team Chevy with a quick lap of 224.969 mph/39.7636 seconds in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet for third in the running order. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Indy 500–Day 1 Practice
Andretti Leads Honda 1-2 Result as Indianapolis 500 Practice Begins
• Marco Andretti and Scott Dixon head time sheets on first practice day
• Fernando Alonso leads rookie session
• Monday the first of five practice days prior to Indianapolis 500 qualifying this weekend
As he did in 2016, Marco Andretti led the way for Honda and his Andretti Autosport team in Opening Day practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Monday, in preparation for the May 28 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.
Scott Dixon made it a 1-2 result for Honda drivers on a warm, sunny day that saw 32 drivers take to the track during the four-hour session. Speeds rose during the final “happy hour” of practice, as more than a dozen drivers worked in the draft in preparation for race day. When the checkers flew at 6 p.m. to end practice, Honda drivers held down eight of the top 10 positions on the time sheet. Continue reading Andretti Leads Honda 1-2 Result as Indianapolis 500 Practice Begins